Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge album)

Yes I Am is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on September 21, 1993.[1] The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out as a lesbian, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life.[6] However in 2018 Etheridge clarified that in fact the title for the track and album were not statements regarding her sexual identity.[7] Yes I Am is the pivotal album that gave Etheridge national and international recognition.[8] [9] The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first single released from the album, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its video featured actress Juliette Lewis having a nervous breakdown. This single brought the was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One", which became a major hit and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, and "If I Wanted To", which hit No. 16.

This article is about the 1993 album by Melissa Etheridge. For the album by Jack Vidgen, see Yes I Am (Jack Vidgen album).

Yes I Am
Studio album by Melissa Etheridge
Released	September 21, 1993 (1993-09-21)[1]
Recorded	A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California[2]
Genre	Rock, Blues Rock
Length	43:54
Label	Island
Producer	Melissa Etheridge, Hugh Padgham[2]
Melissa Etheridge chronology
Never Enough (1992) Yes I Am (1993) Your Little Secret (1995)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[3]
Robert Christgau	C+[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]

As of 2010, the album has sold over 4,348,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[10] In 2018 Etheridge went on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Yes I Am’s release and also re-released the album with an additional eight bonus tracks. [11]

Recording and production

The songs on Yes I Am were recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. The album was produced by Etheridge and Hugh Padgham, who also engineered the album.[2] Hugh Padgham had previously worked mainly with British artists and bands including Genesis, David Bowie, and Sting; among others. Padgham would also produce Etheridge's next album, Your Little Secret.

The main musicians backing Melissa were Kevin McCormick—who had co-produced Etheridge's previous albums—, Mauricio Fritz Lewak, and Waddy Wachtel, and Scott Thurston. Pino Palladino replaced McCormick on several tracks and David Sutton replaced him on one song. Ian McLagen and James Fearnley also made appearances.[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Melissa Etheridge.

1. "I'm the Only One" – 4:54
2. "If I Wanted To" – 3:55
3. "Come to My Window" – 3:55
4. "Silent Legacy" – 5:22
5. "I Will Never Be the Same" – 4:41
6. "All American Girl" – 4:05
7. "Yes I Am" – 4:24
8. "Resist" – 2:57
9. "Ruins" – 4:53
10. "Talking to My Angel" – 4:48

Personnel

The following people contributed to Yes I Am:[2]

• Melissa Etheridge – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, producer
• Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar
• Scott Thurston – keyboards
• Kevin McCormick – bass guitar
• Mauricio Fritz Lewak – drums, percussion
• Hugh Padgham – producer, mixing engineer
• Greg Goldman – assistant engineer
• John Aguto – assistant engineer
• Mike Baumgartner – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Pino Palladino – bass guitar
• David Sutton – bass guitar on "All American Girl"
• James Fearnley – accordion on "Talking to My Angel"
• Ian McLagan – Hammond organ on "I Will Never Be the Same"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993–94) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] 39 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13] 22 Canadian Top Albums[14] 18 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[16] 31 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[17] 20 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 17 US Billboard 200[19] 15

End of decade charts Chart (1990–1999) Position U.S. Billboard 200[20] 100

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1995	"Come to My Window"	Best Female Rock Vocal Performance	Won
		Best Rock Song	Nominated
	I'm the Only One		Nominated

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21]	2× Platinum	200,000^^
United States (RIAA)[22]	6× Platinum	6,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Yes I Am – Melissa Etheridge". AllMusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
2. Yes I Am (CD liner). Melissa Etheridge. New York City, New York, United States: Island Records. 1993. p. 13. 422–848 660-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
3. Sandow, Greg (September 24, 1993). "Yes I Am Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
4. Christgau, Robert (November 23, 1993). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
5. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 283. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone melissa etheridge album guide.
6. Grady, Marie P. (July 11, 2008). "She calls it as she sees it". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
7. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8476300/melissa-etheridge-25-years-later-demystifies-yes-I-am-album-coming-out
8. https://www.njarts.net/pop-rock/melissa-etheridges-pivotal-yes-i-am-album-turns-25/
9. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8476300/melissa-etheridge-25-years-later-demystifies-yes-I-am-album-coming-out
10. Trust, Gary (August 5, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Records About Records". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
11. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8476300/melissa-etheridge-25-years-later-demystifies-yes-I-am-album-coming-out
12. "Australiancharts.com – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am". Hung Medien.
13. "Austriancharts.at – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am" (in German). Hung Medien.
14. "100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes" (PHP). RPM. 58 (15). October 23, 1993. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
17. "Charts.nz – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am". Hung Medien.
18. "Swisscharts.com – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am". Hung Medien.
19. "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
20. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
21. "Canadian album certifications – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am". Music Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
22. "American album certifications – Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 17, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.